Smitten

Chapter three

A week passed, it was so rough and hollow for him, it was feeling as if a decade has passed; his chest clenching and his pain searing day by day. It became a daily robot routine as usual but to Susheela’s surprise it was ticking 11 in the morning and he dint wake up yet. She was concerned and tried to wake him up but he curled up further and was not willing to get up.

She got scared that he is getting succumbed to depression and he has already drained emotionally and physically to such an extent that the mother in her is now shivering in fear. She caressed his head and called up their family doctor; the doctor had to induce some glucose into him so that he could wake up and said that he will go into delirium if he doesn’t start eating as soon as possible.

Susheela called up Sadhna and spoke to her regarding the state of Kailash, Sadhna told she will be there as soon as possible because she is in the hospital for the doctors consultation for his aunt.

After a couple of hours Kailash woke up completely confused looking at the iv drips and a tear – stricken face of his mother

“Maa? What happened?” he asked
“You dint wake up till 11 and I had to call up the doctor, he told you could have gone into delirium if you won’t eat anything further.”
“I am not able to eat Maa, I lost my appetite and interest to eat or sleep or even live” he said in a trance
“I will get the lunch ready; you better eat and take a shower. Sadhna is coming home.” She still sounded blunt.
His face immediately lit up hearing her name.
She is coming, she is coming early! She is coming already!

He managed to do a little dance in his mind and a smile formed on his face. He can finally see her, he can finally get to admire her, adore her. He can just live looking at her throughout his life.

He struggled to get up from his bed and barely managed to stand up, he is completely drained off to the very last drop of energy in his body, and his head hurts like someone is hammering him strongly. He held his head and sat back in his couch, he slowly took his time dragged himself to washroom to clean himself.

The noon passed away in a blur, the clock was ticking 5, he was desperately waiting for her to come, it feels like ages and he is getting anxious every minute. Susheela is observing him from the corner of her eye and ignoring his anxiousness, he was trying to ask her every now and then when will she arrive but then he is staying quiet looking at her facial expression. After feeling each second and minute as a century, she finally arrives with her luggage and gets into the house. He gets up and is rooted to his place, she is looking tired, her hair a little frizzed up due to travelling, dark circles under eyes still managing to put up her smile on her face.

Susheela went and hugged her taking her inside but he was still rooted lost in his thoughts when a tear trickled down his cheek without his knowledge, he sank into the sofa and closed his eyes leaving his head behind and calculating what to do to talk to her? How to approach her and how to take their relationship ahead to work for their marriage?

Just then he happened to hear a conversation
“I will be going back to your father – in – law today as it has been weeks and is calling me back. Make sure you call me if you need anything.” Said Susheela to Sadhna
“Maa, please wait for a few days more” Sadhna had her eyes full
“I can’t Sadhna, who will take care of your father – in – law?” she asked
Sadhna was silent; Kailash was not sure how to react.

She brought her suitcase outside and was ready to leave when Susheela said Sadhna to use her room instead of sleeping on the couch,
Something sharp has strung his heart,
“Take care” she whispered to Kailash and Susheela left.

Both were having tears in their eyes, Sadhna because she only supported her through her loveless marriage and Kailash because he hurt his mom by hurting Sadhna. She wiped her tears and went into Susheela’s room with her luggage. Just what he wanted! 
*

That night both Sadhna and Kailash were shuffling in their respective beds unable to sleep. His heart was starving, starving for her softness, her black orbs and her peaceful face. She was sleepless from past one week, earlier also she was a light sleeper and the change in the place and worry for Kailash, she lost that also.
Kailash got up from his bed and went to her room, he slowly creaked the door open and Sadhna immediately shut her eyes. She dint realize she was frowning in her sleep. He went and sat beside her. Fresh tears formed in his eyes, lately he felt crying is the most beautiful emotion, the pain of wanting someone so badly is really so sweet. He let those tears roll down his cheeks and slowly caressed her silky hair. Her frown on her forehead faded out and she whimpered, she was awake but she couldn’t keep her calm the moment he placed his hand on her temple.
“I missed you so much!” he whispered, it was a mere whisper but his voice contained so much sincerity and pain. He wants to love her, love her so much that both of them forget about the painful period they were going through. His eyes fell on a couch nearby, he went and slept on the couch looking at his wife calming down his erratic heartbeat and falling asleep finally after a week of exhaustion.